Ososim and the Hay Group have collaborated over the past few months to develop a simulation based on Hay Group’s Leadership Styles and Organisational Climate research and assessment tools.

Their research shows that business performance is directly influenced by employees’ experience of work climate and that a leader’s behaviour is the biggest factor in creating the climate for their team. The research reveals that the world’s top leaders draw on a repertoire of six different leadership styles; they change their approach according to the situation, the challenge and the person they’re dealing with at any given time.

Hay Group provides assessments to measure the styles a leader uses with their team and the resulting team climate. They also work with organisations to develop understanding of leadership styles and to expand leaders’ ability to use the right style given the situation and people involved. But in reality it’s hard for leaders to practice new behaviours and styles. That’s where Ososim’s simulation experience has been brought in to help.

The result is Leadership Live, a simulation which takes participants out of their usual corporate environment and puts them into a world of rock stars and event management. In the simulation your organisation has been hired to put on a global concert in six cities around the world to benefit children’s welfare. You have ten direct reports who are responsible for delivering the results under your leadership. The team faces a series of issues and crises as the concert preparations move ahead. From a questionable sponsorship deal to a last-minute international visa crisis there are difficult choices to make. As a leader, each needs to be navigated depending on your understanding of the team members involved and the elements of the particular situation. Understanding your team and how to help them thrive and achieve the best results will ultimately determine the amount of money raised and your organisation’s success in the simulation.

In this engaging and challenging situation participants demonstrate and learn more about their own leadership preferences. They also experience immediately the impact their actions have on the team and the organisational performance. Characters in the simulation provide feedback and rich data is gathered on the choices made. Small groups have the opportunity to discuss different approaches and experiment with different leadership styles.

The simulation will soon be translated into multiple languages including Chinese, Portuguese and German and used globally to develop leaders. By expanding their awareness and repertoire of behaviours, the simulation aims to improve leaders’ effectiveness and ultimately their business performance.